Why did New York vote for a self-imposed lame-duck Senator?

[Armstead]

So it looks like Hillary is going to use her New York Senate seat as a stepping stone for a presidential run after all.

Living in Massachusetts -- where Mitt Romney merely used his one term as Governor to flesh out his resume for a presidential run -- I fail to understand why New Yorkers chose to vote for someone who will be spending most of her term campaigning for president. And if she wins that slot, they will have a new unknown commodity to replace her.

I know she is merely doing what all politicians do. And frankly, I am not happy about the prospect of her as the standard-bearer in 08 for a variety of reasons. I also think she would have made a really good career Senator.

But it bothers me that politicians are so cynical as to run for an office that they know they will be neglecting and abandoning. It seems as though if she were planning to run for Prez, she should have given someone else a shot.

[bryant69]

1. Maybe she'll come toher senses and decide not to run

That seems unlikely though.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Captain Hilts]

2. How do you know? Would you NOT want a Prez candidate to come from your state????

Makes sense to me!

[Armstead]

Kerry came from my state

But the difference is that Kerry DID come from my state and was a long-running Senator before he decided to make the run.

[Deep13]

4. Yeah, but chances are we will win NY anyway.

Unless you are worried about Guilliani taking it.

[Deep13]

3. She's not lame duck if she loses.

She'll be two years into her second term. Don't know if the Romney comparison is apositive to her.

[Armstead]

6. Frankly the comparison is more favorable to Mitt

I don't like the guy, but at least he didn't run for another term as Governor knowing he would be spending all of his time campaigning for President if he had won.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

21. Mitt would never have won re-election

and there really was no alternative to Hillary to answer your question.
She's a good senator.

[chaumont58]

5. Are you suggesting the voters should have voted for the repuke?

Or maybe the Green?

[Armstead]

9. No I'm suggesting that she should have made room for another Dem

[Stephanie]

10. the voters had a good alternative in the primary

Anti-war, progressive Democrat Jonathan Tasini. Had there been a level playing field he would have had a shot. Instead, he was shut out of the debates, shut out of media coverage, and blackballed by the Democratic establishment in the state.

[William769]

7. Excuse me, but she's not running for President (yet).

That makes your topic moot.

[Armstead]

13. Less moot every day

http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/111406/clinton.html

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) is to step down soon from her position in the Democratic leadership, a move that clears the deck for her ambitions outside the Senate.

Clinton is also keeping her campaign offices in New York and Washington operational despite the fact that she does not face reelection for six years, and had scant opposition last Tuesda

[zbdent]

25. "Hillary running for Pres" rumor # 12838837 ...

yet another "She's running for President!" "announcement" ... first heard in

1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004 (the actual candidate to be determined was really going to step down for her)
2005
2006

[Nite Owl]

8. Two reasons:

The GOP had trouble even fielding a candidate. They are in total disarray so there was little opposition from them. Most people hardly knew his name.

There was opposition from the left in the primary and the media ignored him, he had no funding, there were no debates (the media decided that he had no chance because he lacked funds)



Since the media paid little attention to the opposition most people knew her for what the media said she was, the liberal candidate who got things for NY. She had a lot of help I guess since they like her corporate stances.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

11. why is it a surprise to some

that she is GOING to run? Is there really any doubt? She hasn't come out and said, "Yes, I am running." However, she has been running for the office since about 1992...

sP

[Armstead]

14. Hence my original question....

[Captain Hilts]

15. The minute you say you aren't running, your fund-raising runs dry and the press ignores you.

What has she got to gain from saying she isn't running?

[Captain Hilts]

12. HC's approval ratings for her job as senator are very high. She's even gotten some Reps...

to rate her highly.

Folks in NYS think she's been a good senator. Why shouldn't they vote for her?

Her fundraising has given the state a lot of influence in the Senate. She and Schumer are a good pair. Close enough to agree on things, but competitive enough to want to be better than the other.

[Armstead]

17. I said I think she'd be a great career Senator

I would much rather see Senate Majority Leader Hillary Clinton someday than to see her make a divisive run to perpetuate anotehr family dynasty in the White House.

[Captain Hilts]

26. I think that's EXACTLY what she wants to do. Bingo! nt

[Stuckinthebush]

16. Hedging her bets

And we aren't sure she is running yet anyway.

I am with you in that I think she isn't the best candidate for us, but I wouldn't be surprised if she holds off until 2012 or 2016.

[bullimiami]

18. hillary will have been senator from ny for 8 years in 2008. how long do you

consider long enough?

ny reelected her overwhelmingly knowing she is a possible pres candidate in 08.

[Armstead]

19. She will be AWOL if she runs for President

[BIG Sean]

20. She's been a great Senator!

That's why.

I am not sure how great a President she will be, but I am sure that she is a great Senator and New York is better for having her here.

[Captain Hilts]

27. She goes to UTICA!!! for God's sake! The butt of jokes on "The Simpsons!" nt

[bigtree]

22. maybe, maybe not. she wouldn't be the first to straddle the two

IF she runs.

[WI_DEM]

23. Voted for her because she was running for a second term

and because if she did run in '08 and lose she would still be Senator and if she wins the Dem governor could appoint her successor, and there is also the chance that she might not even run for president in 2008.

[jobycom]

24. Not my business why, not being a New York voter. nt